It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All
- I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
- I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
- You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
- Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.
And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.
Now let's get to the May 2026 list....
McAllister, Gillian
Caller Unknown
William Morrow
Simone comes to Texas from the UK to visit her daughter, Lucy. Lucy is kidnapped, and the perpetrators force Simone into trafficking drugs into Mexico for Lucy’s safe return. When a confrontation goes wrong, Lucy and Simone are reunited, but are suddenly on the run from the law. The story is breathtaking, and readers will constantly be on edge, wondering if and when the pair will be caught—and what the consequences will be.
--Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, OH
NoveList read-alike: Mother, May I by Joshilyn Jackson
Bannister, Ilona
Five: A Novel
Crown
Five strangers meet at a train station, but only four will leave alive. Readers are challenged to predict the victim from among a cast of flawed, unlikable characters whose backstories are unexpectedly gripping. This thought-provoking thriller is an ideal book club pick that will spark a different debate for every reader.
--Marika Zemke, Commerce Twp Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: 59 Minutes by Holly Seddon
Cassidy, Nat
I Know A Place
Shortwave Publishing
Nat Cassidy is one of horror's more unique voices. This short story collection is terrifying and filled with relatable characters. These wild, grim, violent stories unfold as if the author has sidled up to you at a bar and started sharing them. And you simply can't stop listening.
--Lila Denning, St Petersburg Library System, FL
NoveList read-alike: Midnight Somewhere by Johnny ComptonDamoff, Sarah
The Burning Side
Simon & Schuster
April and Leo’s marriage is already on the brink when a devastating fire levels their home. Forced to retreat to April’s childhood house with their two children, they must navigate generational trauma and deep-seated grief alongside her parents and siblings. Amidst the literal and figurative ashes, the couple struggles to determine if their relationship is worth salvaging.
--Emily Orth, Surprise Public Library, AZ
NoveList read-alike: The Heart of Winter by Jonathan EvisonDinniman, Matt
A Parade of Horribles
Ace
Coming in off the back of a fast paced, complex, and scope-changing Book 7, Book 8 reminds readers of the horrible truth of the Dungeon: for all of their drive and cleverness, Carl and Princess Donut are still just a man and his talking cat trapped in an AI-controlled game that is trying to kill them. This interesting shift in scope and pacing reminds readers of the players' predicament.
--Aaron Mason, Radford Public Library, VA
NoveList read-alike: Delicious in Dungeon series by Ryoko KuiHolt, Katie
The Last Page
Alcove Press
Ella thinks she’s going to inherit the used bookstore where she has worked for years, but is devastated when a grandson shows up as the new owner. Now they must put aside their rivalry, and their off-the-charts chemistry, to save the store. The characters' clever book reviews at the start of every chapter also serve to carry the plot forward.
--Migdalia Jimenez, Chicago Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Battle of the Bookstores by Ali BradySepetys, Ruta
A Fortune of Sand: A Novel
Ballantine Books
When Marjorie, the youngest of the Lennox family, covertly applies for and is accepted into an artists’ residency in Detroit run by an appealing but secretive benefactor, she finds both inspiration and compelling secrets. Intriguing family, deeply buried secrets, and cons-within-cons abound in this Prohibition Era Detroit novel, set among the monied families with ties to the growing car industry.
--Jessica Trotter, Capital Area District Libraries, MI
NoveList read-alike: Crucible by John SaylesStockett, Kathryn
The Calamity Club
Spiegel & Grau
In Depression-era Mississippi, a girl trapped in a Dickensian orphanage, and a young woman trying to lift her family out of financial ruin cross paths. Young Meg feels trapped and Birdy is faced with family issues that run deep. This dual-narrated story is totally engrossing, and readers will be rooting for the characters.
--Donna Ballard, East Meadow Public Library, NJ Ambassador
NoveList read-alike: The Truth According to Us by Annie Barrows
Stuart, Douglas
John of John
Grove Atlantic
Aimless art student Cal returns to his isolated Scottish home, forced to navigate his grandmother’s illness and a community that won’t accept his sexuality. The story leans into incredible dialogue and raw, evolving relationships with complicated people readers can't help but care about.
--Magan Szwarek, LibraryReads Ambassador, IL
NoveList read-alike: Family Meal by Bryan Washingtonvan Veen, Johanna
Bone of My Bone
Poisoned Pen Press
Sister Ursula, a nun fleeing brutal soldiers in 1635, meets Elsebeth, a peasant surviving the Thirty Years’ War. They escape into the Bavarian forest, experiencing the horrors of the undead while followed by a necromancer. This atmospheric, haunting folk horror read is told from multiple points of view.
--Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
The Last Contract of Isako
Orbit
Barnett, Mac
Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children
Little, Brown and Company
See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks
The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order. Please note, the current year's Hall of Fame lists are pulled out at the top of the page.
Center, Katherine
The Shippers
St. Martin's Press
Finlay, Alex
The Anniversary
Minotaur Books
Fortune, Carley
Our Perfect Storm
Berkley
Gailey, Sarah
Make Me Better
Tor Books
Haig, Matt
The Midnight Train: A Novel
Viking
McFadden, Freida
The Divorce
Poisoned Pen Press
Monaghan, Annabel
Dolly All the Time
G.P. Putnam's Sons
Painter, Lynn
First and Forever
Berkley
Roberts, Nora
The Final Target
St. Martin's Press
Roth, Veronica
Seek the Traitor's Son
Tor Books
Strout, Elizabeth
The Things We Never Say: A Novel
Random House
Wells, Martha
Platform Decay
Tor Books
